Compensating center



July 19, 1932. R. s. sowDEN COMPENSATING CENTER lFiled May 9' 1950 Y wwf-.

Patented July 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT STUART SOWDEN, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM WHARTON, JR., @c COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- .'PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA COMPENSATING CENTER Application filed May 9, 1930. Serial No. 451,025.

The invention relates to centering devices andaims to provide means whereby irregular objects or objects which rotate eccentrcally during machining or other lathe operations, may be supported for rotation about the center of the lathe or other machine.

The nature of the invention may be said to be predicated on the use of a compensating center in which a toggle block designed for engagement with the work has a universal connection with an eccentric block mounted for more or less radial play with relation to a rotative housing carried by the spindle whereby objects which ordinarily cannot be centered can be securely supported While being machined.

Referring to the accompanying drawing Figure l is a longitudinal sectional View of a compensating center embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a face view of the toggle block.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of means employed to prevent separation of the toggle and eccentric blocks.

The improved center may comprise the usual spindle or other conventional support 1, to which is secured through the medium of a sleeve lock 2, a freely rotatable housing 3. The spindle has a reduced extension or neck el between which and the wall 5 of the housing is an annular bearing 6.

The housing has a rim or collar 7 formed or provided with longitudinally ranging openings 8. An eccentric block 9 is secured in abutting relation with the end wall of the housing through the cooperation of its threaded passages 10 and studs 11 penetrating the openings 8. The openings 8 are so formed as to provide clearance for the studs 11 and when the latter are more or less loose the eccentric block is permitted radial play with relation to the housing.

Cooperating with the eccentric block 9 and secured relatively thereto by universal connection 14 is a toggle block 12 which engages the object to be machined, indicated at 13. In the detail Fig. 3, it will be observed that there are fingers 15 secured to the eccentric block as at 16 and terminating in hooked portions 17 which overlie the rim flange 18 of the toggle block and prevent the latter from falling off when the center is backed away from the object 13 in order that the latter may be removed from the machine.

In the application of the device, the studs 11 being free, the face of the toggle block is caused to engage the object to be machined and it will be understood that through the intervention of the universal connection, the

toggle block will be permitted to orient itself in order to conform to the slope of the end of the object, thereby insuring even support Without regard to any irregularity that may be present. The work is then turned and as the eccentric block has relative freedom of movement radially of the housing, it will shift to conform to the natural center. 'i' he studs 11 are then tightened to hold the eccentric block in the position thus assumed, and in the subsequent rotation of the object, as for example during machining, the eccentric block which is centered with respect to the object will rotate eccentrically with the object about the center of the machine.

l/Vith the use of a compensating center such as described objects which ordinarily cannot be centered can properly be supported. Moreover, with its use, it has the further advantage that in many instances, the centerin operations usual with machined parts may e eliminated.

Having described the invention, what is claimed, is:

1. A compensating center, including a spindle, a housing, a block capable of selfadjustable eccentric positioning thereon, means whereby the block and housing may be relatively fixed, a block for engaging the work, and a universal connection between said blocks.

2. A compensating center, including a spindle, a hou-sing rotating thereon, a block movable relatively to the housing, means for securing said block and housing against relative movement in any position of the block, a work engaging member, and a universal connection between said block and work engaginor member.

3. compensating center, including a spindle housing, a block mounted thereon and capable of self eccentric adjustment with relation to said housing, means for securing the block and housing in any adjusted position, a block to engage the Work, and a universal connection between the blocks.

4. A compensating center, including a spindle housing having a collar, a block, studs passing loosely through the collar and havingY threaded connection with the' block, whereby the latter is self-adjustable eccen- `trically with relation to the hou-sing, and a work engaging member having universal connection with said block.

5. A compensating center, including a spindle housing, a member connected therewith and self-adjustable eccentrically with relation to afixed center line, means for securing said member in adjusted position, a

work engaging member, a universal connection between said members, and means to prevent casual separation of the members in the absence of work.

6. A compensating center mounting, including a spindle, a housing freely rotatable thereon, a block carried by the housing and free to move in any radial direction trom the fix-ed center line, and anotherl block for engaging the work and having a flexible connection with the first-mentioned block.

k7.y A compensating center, including a work-engaging member of generally disk form having a work-engaging face of a relatively large area, a rotatable member tol support'it, and a universal connection between said members, the supporting member being mounted for free radial movement with rela tion to a fixed center line.

In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature.

' ROBERT S. SOWDEN.

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